Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi announced on Wednesday evening that the military is launching a “vigorous” response as M23 fighters, allegedly supported by Rwanda, continue their advance in the eastern region of the country.
In recent weeks, the rebels have taken control of significant portions of the mineral-rich area, including the strategic city of Goma, which serves as the capital of North Kivu province.
Authorities in Kinshasa, along with the United Nations, the United States, and other Western nations, have accused Rwandan forces of backing the M23 in Goma, a claim that Rwanda has refuted.
In his first televised address since the M23’s incursion into the city, Tshisekedi stated that a “vigorous and coordinated response against these terrorists and their backers is in progress.”
He also criticized the “inaction” of the international community regarding what he termed an “unprecedented deterioration of the security situation.”
The United Nations Security Council convened for the second time in three days on Tuesday to address the escalating crisis in eastern DRC, urging the M23 to cease its offensive.
During the Council meeting, the DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, called for decisive actions, including the withdrawal of “random troops” from Congolese territory and the imposition of sanctions on the Rwandan defense forces.
Multiple nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, have criticized Rwanda for the advances made by rebel forces.
Reports indicate that on Wednesday, M23 fighters made significant progress on a new front, capturing two districts in South Kivu.
The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has also accused Rwanda of engaging in actions that jeopardize regional stability.
The mineral-rich eastern DRC has been a volatile area for decades, with numerous armed groups whose origins can be partially linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The United Nations has cautioned that the M23 offensive could escalate into a regional conflict.
Notably, President Tshisekedi did not participate in an emergency virtual summit of the East African Community (EAC) on Wednesday, which was hosted by Kenya and attended by Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
Following the meeting, the heads of state from the regional bloc called for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. They also strongly urged Kinshasa to engage directly with all parties involved, including the M23 and other armed groups with grievances.
The East African leaders announced plans to convene a joint summit on the crisis with leaders from southern Africa in the near future.
Angola, which previously mediated a failed negotiation attempt last month before the M23’s offensive began, has called for an urgent meeting between the Congolese and Rwandan leaders in Luanda.
The Angolan presidency confirmed that the DRC president was in Luanda on Wednesday for discussions regarding the next steps.
